WhatsApp / Telegram recruiter warning

Social-media recruitment is now a top scam channel. What to look for, how to verify, when to walk away.

What it looks like

A friendly first message on WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, or Instagram. 'Are you looking for a tanker contract?' Followed by a slick PDF offer, a quick photo of an ID badge, and then small requests for documents and money. Within days the recruiter has disappeared.

Red flags

• First contact on social media without a referral.
• No corporate domain email.
• Quick to ask for documents, slow to provide vessel + principal detail.
• Refuses video call with a corporate-branded background.
• Profile picture is a stock photo or a stolen real recruiter's photo.

How to verify

• Ask for the company name, regulator licence number, and corporate phone number.
• Hang up and call the published corporate number — not the one the recruiter gave you.
• Search the recruiter's name + company on the regulator's directory.
• Run the offer through the manning-agency scam checker.

Last verified 5 months ago